Multicultural Manchester

Manchester is a truly multicultural university, welcoming more than 44,000 students a year from 170 countries to our friendly campus community.

Beyond the University you’ll find that the city of Manchester is a diverse and modern place where a taste of home is never far away. Manchester’s character is defined as much by its people as it is by its history and achievements. The city is one of the most multicultural in the UK, with nearly 200 languages spoken here. It also ranks among the world's best student cities, by QS (2025).

Over the centuries many people have chosen Manchester as their home. Greater Manchester’s Jewish community, for example, is the largest outside of London. 

Our Chinatown, centred around the impressive imperial arch, is the second largest in the UK. Ever popular for its countless restaurants, Asian supermarkets and events, Chinatown fills the area with vibrant colour and flavours. 

Rusholme and its celebrated ‘Curry Mile’ sits between our University campus and Fallowfield campus. On this neon-lit street, countless restaurants sit alongside shops catering to the resident South Asian and Middle Eastern communities.

With so many cultures rubbing shoulders with one another, it’s no surprise that Manchester has an excellent reputation for food and drink. You’ll find cuisine from practically every culture and to suit any budget.

And with local shops and markets close to our campus, it’s easy for you to buy ingredients that you would use at home. Vegetarian, halal and kosher foods are affordable and widely available.

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Events and festivals

The diversity of cultures in Manchester means that there is no shortage of occasions to celebrate. Whether it’s Eid or Chinese New Year, you won’t find many places in the UK that do things with the same energy.

Some of the many festivals and events include:

Religion and faiths

Manchester is home to people of many religions and faiths, and there are places of worship for most religions across the city, as well as dedicated religious clubs and societies within our own Students’ Union.

On campus, we have Avila House and Holy Name Church, which provides a Roman Catholic chaplaincy.

We have two prayer rooms for Muslim students on campus and there are a number of mosques located near the University and student areas.

The city is also home to Buddhist centres, Jewish synagogues, and facilities for Sikh and Hindu worship.